Saints' Jordan, Evans on #NFLRank Top 50

Summary of 21 articles · Updated Aug 29, 2014

Smith checks in at No. 40 in ESPN’s #NFLRank list. A pair of New Orleans Saints Pro Bowlers got even more recognition on Monday, cracking the ESPN #NFLRank top 50 on offense and defense. A year after finishing off the list at No. 121, Rivers debuts on #NF… (more)LRank ESPN’s ranking of the top 100 players on offense and defense in the NFL at No. 30. Green is currently the second-best receiver in the NFL one pass-catching tight end notwithstanding and Geno Atkins is the fourth-best defensive lineman in the league, according to ESPN's #NFLRank project that concluded on ESPN.com on Friday. Since his rookie season in 2011, Jordan has 11 batted passes, more than twice as many as any other Saints player during that span. Defensive end Cameron Jordan ranked 45th on the list of the league's top defensive players . Executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway, who just completed his fourth draft with the team in May and has consistently stated his long-term goal for the team is "to compete for world championships every year and we know the draft is a key part of that. We know that's our core." Often when Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is offering up something for public consumption, he will turn down the volume on the compliments.

Bengals place two in #NFLRank's top 10

CINCINNATI -- A.J. Green is currently the second-best receiver in the NFL -- one pass-catching tight end notwithstanding -- and Geno Atkins is the fourth-best defensive lineman in the league, according to ESPN's #NFLRank project that concluded on ESPN.c…

Willis top-rated 49ers player in #NFLRank

If Patrick Willis has lost a step, it’s one that precious few other players in the NFL had anyway. The San Francisco 49ers' five-time All-Pro inside linebacker checks in at No. 7 among all defensive players in the ESPN.com Top 100 players project a year…

In #NFLRank new Manning like old Manning

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The stories are almost football tall tales. They're like the one about walking uphill both ways to school while the snow was piled high. It will be told and retold, perhaps getting a little more far-fetched and drastic each time. The…

Demaryius Thomas will rise in #NFLRank

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- ESPN used over seven dozen voters from the network’s many NFL platforms as well as Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus to rank the league’s Top 100 players on offense and Top 100 players on defense. In the rankings, 85 voters t…

Injury causes Matthews to fall in #NFLRank

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- There is no doubting the impact that linebacker Clay Matthews has when he is on the field for the Green Bay Packers. According to ESPN Stats & Information, when Matthews was on the field over the past two seasons, the Packers had …

Miller set to rise from No. 11 in #NFLRank

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Often when Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is offering up something for public consumption, he will turn down the volume on the compliments. Things are “fine.’’ Players do a “nice job." And if, out from behind …

Newest Broncos on defense in #NFLRank

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- ESPN used over seven dozen voters from the network's many NFL platforms, as well as Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus, to rank the league's top 100 players on offense and top 100 players on defense. In the end, 85 voters turn…

Staley, Smith check in on #NFLRank

Nine San Francisco 49ers players have already been listed on our #NFLRank Top 100 players ranking, and left tackle Joe Staley and defensive tackle Justin Smith are the 10th and 11th. Staley, who is entering his eighth season, checks in at No. 24 among a…

Ben Roethlisberger No. 28 in #NFLRank

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who played every snap in 2013 and turned in one of his best statistical seasons, is the team's highest-ranked representative on ESPN.com's list of the NFL's top 100 players on offense and defense. The …

Jason Witten at No. 25 in #NFLRank

IRVING, Texas -– As ESPN continues its #NFLRank countdown, Jason Witten has made his appearance in the offense’s top 100. The nine-time Pro Bowl tight end checked in at No. 25, down four spots from 2013 after he caught 110 passes, an NFL record for tigh…

Philip Rivers debuts on #NFLRank at No. 30

SAN DIEGO -- Add another piece of evidence that San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is back playing at an elite level. A year after finishing off the list at No. 121, Rivers debuts on #NFLRank -- ESPN’s ranking of the top 100 players on offense…

Michael Bennett makes #NFLRank top 100

RENTON, Wash. -- Defensive end Michael Bennett became the eighth Seattle Seahawks player to make ESPN.com’s #NFLRank top 100 list of offensive and defensive players in the NFL. Bennett (6-4, 275) comes in at No. 34 on the defensive countdown. The Texas …

Alshon Jeffery debuts high on #NFLRank

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Apparently, a pair of tennis rackets dangle from Alshon Jeffery's wrists, and the Chicago Bears just hope the receiver continues to serve up the love in the form of receptions to the club's offense. "There are a couple of thing…

Antonio Brown climbs in #NFLRank

Antonio Brown finished second in the NFL with 1,499 receiving yards and 110 receptions in 2013 yet he is only the 14th-ranked wide receiver on the ESPN.com list of the top 100 offensive players. Brown is No. 38 overall, a number that is hard to fathom s…

Clady, Thomas appear in #NFLRank

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- ESPN used 85 voters from the network’s many NFL platforms as well as Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus to rank the league’s top 100 players on offense and top 100 players on defense. Players ranked No. 40 to 31 are featured o…

Jets' defensive duo rising in #NFLRank

Muhammad Wilkerson is serious and reserved, not always quick with a smile. Sheldon Richardson is funny and engaging, a yapper's delight. He could have a future in stand-up comedy. They're different in so many ways, including their playing style, but Wil…

Dallas' Tyron Smith at No. 40 in #NFLRank

IRVING, Texas -- It took the Dallas Cowboys a while to figure out the importance of a strong offensive line, but they got it right when they took Tyron Smith with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 draft. That worked so well that the Cowboys took offens…

Matt Forte No. 29 in player rankings

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte improved his standing from a year ago in our #NFLRank project, moving from No. 48 to No. 29 in the latest edition, in which ESPN ranks the top 100 players in the league on both sides of the ball. The latest rankings…